Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-07-23

| naam! Brussels carpet all the way and walnut
furniture In the spare room, to be sure. What use
| would maiden aunts savings be here, I'd like TO
know"
"Not much said with smile and return of
my good humor. 81 am glad to say, Aunt Betsy, 1
I had asserted my Independence, vanquished my
stand that did not want either her or her money,
and now was prepared TO be as civil and friendly
| as even Tom could wish.
rang for hot water, helped to unstrap the
| hlde0us striped carpet-bag, asked II my aunt
would like cup OF tea or glass Of wine before
dinner hoped she would be comfortable and make
herself at home, and then sailed away matestically
conscious that looked very fine in my peacock
| blue satin, and had made my aunt feel decidedly
small In her coarse gray stuff gown.
| when she Joined me at dinner, she had replaced
her biack drawn" satin bonnet by muslin cap
with an lnnnlty or narrow borders, while white
muslin handkerchief was pinned over her should
| ers and fastened near the waist by an enormous
too, were laid aside as were the camlet shawl and
bearskin cape, and saw that Aunt Betsy was not
| only keen-eyed, but thin straight. and active.
your husband must be man OF means, Niece
Frances, she observed, glanc1ng round the dining
| room and scanning everything on the table.
sand We have the Interest Of my fortune fortune
cent?"
'No; my guardian sold out OF the Funds long
ago. and invested my money in a mine 1t pays
10 and sometimes IL per cent, Aunt Betsy
Twelve per cent-eh? That's something, to be
sure! No wonder you are independent OF your old
aunt! husband lawyer, too, who knows all
"Yes, Tom was quite satisfied with the invest
ment, or ne would not have consented, you know.
How uiu you fnd my sisters, Aunt Betsy? Were
they glad to see you? Ellen was always your
favorite, think
81 found them pleased to see me- 1 left them
still more pleased to get rid OF Inc; but, as went
to please myself and not them, 1t did not matter
| much " Miss Betsy replied grimiy. "They're avari
cl n%s Niece Frances and you're proud don't
fore destruction, and naughty spirit before
fall. You would not have your Old relative from
the mountains think you want for anything, would
you? Oh, no. Is your husband as great a fool as
you are, niece?'
laughed heartily at her pointed and brusque
question.
Il do not consider myself quite fool, aunt,"I
replied; but, even If / am, 1 think Tom has
enough sense for us both"
Then asked Aunt Betsy to come with me to the
draw1ng-room; but, true to her character OF an
Olnclous Old maid, she declared her intention OF
going over the house from garnet to basement.
NO, no; you need not trouble to come with
me, she said, waving me aside. "The place is
none so big but can find my way. mean to see
for myself aud judge for myself, Niece Frances.
Just you sit down with your fiddfng, make believe
needle-work while look rOund-I won't be long
have taken after your poor mother. I'll look at
the corners, niece, that's ALL" and away the old
'Let her go" said to myself with smile. s'She
can't find much to find fault with up stairs, any,
way, and dare say Jane can hold her own in the
SO laid down my embroidery and went to the
plano for half an hours practice without single
In about twenty minutes she returned and seated
herself In corner with an expression could re-
member ever since was a child knew there
was storm coming, and resolved to meet 1t with
good humor, and laughingly remind my Aunt Bet
sy that 1t was my house, and that II she did not
But was not at all prepared for the accusations
she heaped up against me. was idle, lazy, care
less, untidy, extravagant There was sinful, wan
ton waste In every part of the house.
You Will ruin husband ~ she cried raising
her hands ''SiX chamber towels in your own
| bedroom, and four best sperm candles! Think OF
the washing, think OF the candle ends. As for the
Kitchen, the waste of fat, the waste Of Goals, a
pound OF soap on the sink! Niece Frances, I'm
shocked! wonder you can sleep In your bed at
night with such things going on around your
I'm afraid l couldn't sleep, Aunt Betsy, II
nng amy He ed 6e nip
Know from other places, and you will soon get
used TO cur ways"
"Never!" Miss Betsy exclaimed theoretically.
"Never can / get used to waste or extravaganza
while remember that there are thousands OF poor
starving creatures who might live In comfort on
rich should be made to relieve the necessities OF
the poor, niece: and never shall penny OF my
small savings go to q woman who wants four can
dies to look at the reflection of her face in the
glass and six towels to wipe it on"
81 told YOU aunt, that didn't want your saw
fngs, and don't" SAID, gently 'Do try to make
allowances for different habits and customs or IL
you can't do that, take notice at all 1t really
need not matter to YOU"
"But must leave my money to some one," she
said, with puzzled, helpless expression. .I'm an
| old woman; must set my affairs in order, but
| think should live to say it Of brother Peters
children! Greedy and lazy, ones bad. the others
MSTss; but don't know which is worst-1 DON'T
leave your money to charity, Aunt Betsy"
"Charity begins at home,v she cried tartly.
an leave my money how and where / like
| but not to be Squandered In senSeless extrava-
gance, depend on that! came to stay and I'll
Il IN Ennyr 4 hofI ona n,r
have an hours peace while I'm In the house.
nature began to fail; he heartily tired of Aunt
Betsy, her carping her fauit-nnding and her con-
tinual notwithstanding. She wanted to know
| lions with good deal Of lawyer-like Ingenuity,
she cOntrived To elicit great deal of information
aDOrt our 81 domestic arrangements and she dis
seven days OF her visit were gone; and Tom having
arrfyed at the same conclusion as myself, that
began TO wish the other two days were over for
the old lady was becoming really unbearabe She
seemed deeply interested in the mine In which my
small portion was invested, and my husband
appeared, thought, strangely unwilling to give
her any information. On the afternoon OF the nth
| day, just as was preparing to go out for walk
an old man In a suit OF rusty black. CARRYING =
shabby bag, called and asked to see Miss CLAYTON
Jane showed him into the dining rOom-not as she
afterWard said, without some m1SgivingS about
| the silver-and on hearing his name my aunt
| fastened TO see him. In about ten minutes she
4 Cdulc u Tue IOOt VI Uuo StttFS anu called me,
''Niece Frances come here!" she cried In a high
shrtl voice; and, as looked at her face, saw in
| a moment that something unusual had happened
"ThiS Is Macer my man or business and legal adyt-
and he's just told me that I've lost all my money
He tells Inc have been swtndled out OF every
penny possess, and a good deal more besides
/ that CraglandS must be sold to meet my liabili-
| ties, that I'm houseless, homeless old beggar,
| without a place to lay my head. Is that what
| you've told me- Macer?"
"PreciSely, ma'am; that's what I've told you,
"Dear Aunt Betsy, am sorry - / said earnestly
and really felt truly and heartily grieved for her
! "No hope OF legacy now, Niece Frances; so
| suppose may pack my carpet bag and take N.Y.
self on as soon as pleaSei'
'No indeed, aunt; you must not think OF leay-
| ing us until your affairs are arranged Things
may not be so bad as you suppose. In any case
you must ask Toms advice; he may be able to
help your.
II don't know what to d." the old lady cried
! wringtng her hands. 'If lose Craglands shall
/ be without home"
..Not while have one. Aunt Betsy" said lay
| ing my hand upon her shoulder. "COme Cheer
up! While We have a roof to shelter us you shall
| share IL, and know Tom viii Say so, tOo'
''Thanks my dear; II you really mean it. and
| your husband says so, too, I'll not be so down
| hearted. It's only when trouble comes upon You
| that you learn TO know your friends"
Tom returned early that evening; and before we
went down TO dinner told him OF my aunts ter
rible misfortuneS, and my assurance that we
| would never let her want for home
"That was like you, dear-your real self. I
mean" he replied; land quite agree with you
that the poor old girl must not want while we
| have anything. But, Fanny, darling, misfortunes
| IL seems TO me never come Singly; / have been
very anxious lately about that mine in which
Evans invested your money. To-day the worst I
feared has come TO pass; the concern has gone